Arithmetic unit for a postage meter

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an arithmetic unit for a postage meter in which the arithmetic and printing mechanism, commonly called &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;the meter&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;, is removably attached to a heavy base by easily removable means, so that the arithmetic printing unit may be readily separated therefrom and taken to a Post Office for resetting. The mechanism of the present invention comprises a hollow cylindrical drive shaft on which is mounted a single Thomas-type mutilated drum actuator; driven gears slidably, but non-rotatably mounted on register drive shafts that are arranged on a concentric arc around the actuator; preferably a second Thomas-type mutilated drum actuator driven from said drive shaft; a second plurality of driven gears mounted on register drive shafts which are concentrically arranged in an arc around said second actuator; a descending register driven from one of said actuators and its associated driven gears and register drive shafts; ascending register driven by said second actuator and its associated driven gears and register drive shafts; a manually operated and ordinally arranged selection mechanism to simultaneously set into each of the orders of the registers driven by said register drive shafts, the value of the stamp to be impressed upon the mail matter; and a postage printing mechanism set by said manually operable selection mechanism and driven by the drive shaft. Preferably, the means for setting the printing mechanism comprises a set of first selection bars in the interior of said hollow drive shaft and set by the manually operated selection mechanism, and a set of second longitudinal, or axial, members resting on the exterior of said drive shaft and operable to set the printing mechanism; and means for interconnecting the interior and exterior longitudinally movable members.

United States Patent n 1 Malavazos, deceased et a1.

[ 1 June 17, 1975 1 1 ARITHMETIC UNIT FOR A POSTAGE METER [75]Inventors: Arthur ,1. Malavazos, deceased, late of San Leandro, Calif;Malavazos, administrator, by Gregory A., San Leandro, Calif; Jan Urdal,San Mateo, Calif.

[73] Assignee: A ,l M Research Corporation,

Hayward, Calif.

[22] Filed: Apr. 3, 1974 1211 Appl. No.: 457,592

[52] U.S. Cl 235/101; 235/132 R; 235/133 R; 101/91 [51] Int. Cl. G07g1/00; 006C 7/02 [58] Field of Search 235/101, 132 R, 133 R; 101/91 [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,597,488 5/1952 Hopkins et a1235/133 R 2,672,290 3/1954 Russell 235/101 2,726,812 12/1955 Uhl 235/1013,107,854 10/1963 Lundquist A 235/101 3,123,292 4/1964 Lundquist 235/101Primary Examiner-Stephen .1. Tomsky Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobyn Wilcox[57] ABSTRACT This invention relates to an arithmetic unit for a postagemeter in which the arithmetic and printing mechaan an nism, commonlycalled the meter", is removably attached to a heavy base by easilyremovable means, so that the arithmetic printing unit may be readilyseparated therefrom and taken to a Post Office for resetting. Themechanism of the present invention comprises a hollow cylindrical driveshaft on which is mounted a single Thomas-type mutilated drum actuator;driven gears slidably, but non-rotatably mounted on register driveshafts that are arranged on a concentric arc around the actuator;preferably a second Thomas-type mutilated drum actuator driven from saiddrive shaft; a second plurality of driven gears mounted on registerdrive shafts which are concentrically arranged in an are around saidsecond actuator; a descending register driven from one of said actuatorsand its associated driven gears and register drive shafts; ascendingregister driven by said second actuator and its associated driven gearsand register drive shafts; a manually operated and ordinally arrangedselection mechanism to simultaneously set into each of the orders of theregisters driven by said register drive shafts, the value of the stampto be impressed upon the mail matter; and a postage printing mechanismset by said manually operable selection mechanism and driven by thedrive shaft. Preferably, the means for setting the printing mechanismcomprises a set of firs selection bars in the interior of said hollowdrive sh .fl and set by the manually operated selection mechanism, and aset of second longitudinal, or axial, members resting on the exterior ofsaid drive shaft and operable to set the printing mechanism; and meansfor interconnecting the interior and exterior longitudinally movablemembers.

3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED 17 1975 15 90 I 49 1 sum 2 OF {1PATENTEDJUN 17 1915 3.8903191 SHEET 3 OF 4 IIII'IIIIA PATENTEDJUH 171975 SHEET l 1? d ARITHMETIC UNIT FOR A POSTAGE METER BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to the combination of theseveral functional elements which comprise what is generally known as aPostage Meter". The several elements are described more in detail in thefour applications filed on even date herewith, and is adapted to beassociated with them, namely: (a) one entitled Selec tion Mechanism fora Postage Meter, Ser. No. 457,594; (b) a second entitled Register for aPostage Meter", Ser. No. 457,593; (r) a third entitled Print Head for aPostage Meter", Ser. No. 457,595, and (d) a fourth entitled Lock forSelection Mechanisms and Controls for a Postage Meter, Ser. No. 457,591.In one sense, these four applications could be considered as divisionsof this application, although it is obvious that they are not legallysuch.

Postage meters are made under strict regulations prescribed by theUnited States Post Office which require, among other things, that avalue selected for the meter must be accurately set in the valueprinting stamp of the meter and actually set into each of the registers:one in which the values are accumulated known as the ascending register,and one in which a value of a stamp is subtracted from the value set bythe Post Oftice at the time of payment for postage, known as thedescending register; a mechanism which locks the meter against operationwhile the machine is printing and operating the registers, so that theamount printed by the print head and registered in the registers areexactly the same; and a mechanism which locks the meter against anyoperation when the value in the descending register falls below thatwhich could be set into the machine by an operator. The particularinvention described and claimed herein relates to the combination of thevarious essential mechanisms which constitute a postage meter.

It is well-known in the art that the Post Office with which a meter isregistered will, upon the payment of an amount to cover postage desiredby the user, reset the descending register from time to time, but thevalues accumulated in the ascending register are never changed except bymachine operation.

Other requirements of the Post Office are that the meter must beaccurate in all aspects of its operation. It should be ruggedlyconstructed to withstand long and hard usage and it must be relativelytrouble-free. It is well-known that a meter is so encased in its coverthat it cannot be repaired and the mechanism cannot be changed in anyway except to change what are known as slogan dies on the print head,and except that the descending register can have its setting changed atthe Post Office when a Post Office official unlocks access to thatregisterany other repair or change in the meter requires that the meterbe officially taken from service by the distributor and repaired in afacility that is subject to Post Office inspection. Hence, it isessential for a satisfactory postage meter to be extremely accurate inregistering the values printed by it into both registers as well as tobe rugged and trouble-free in its operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an arithmetic unit,commonly called a Postage Meter for a mailing machine which can bedriven at a speed twice or even more than that commonly used at present.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a very ruggedand simple construction for a postage meter so that its operation willbe long and troublefree.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a postagemeter that is completely accurate in its operation.

It is another object of the present invention to pro vide a postagemeter that will print larger and more legible stamp designs that is nowpossible.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide apostage meter in which the printing unit is immediately adjacent themain bearing of the postage machine, so that there will be less twistingof the mechanism of the meter than is now possible.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide anoverall design for a postage meter that is faster and will print largerstamp indicia than is now possible and which, at the same time, will besimple and rugged in construction.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide abetter postage meter than any now available.

These and further objects of the invention will be apparent from thedescription of the register in the following specification whenconstrued in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the front portion ofthe main drive shaft taken along a vertical plane through the center ofthe shaft, and showing particularly the mechanism closely associatedthere with.

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the sc lection mechanismtaken on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the drive shaft throughthe forward part of the selection mechanism, such as along the planeindicated by the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the rearward part of theselection mechanism of the descending register showing the rearward partof the selection mechanism taken along a plane perpendicular to the axisof the drive shaft, such as indicated by the lines 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view of the selection locking mechanism taken at the forwardend of the device, such as along the plane indicated by the line 4-4 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view of the back side of the mechanism shown in FIG. 4, suchas taken along the vertical plane indicated by the lines 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view through the drive shaft of themechanism, taken on a vertical plane such as that indicated by line 6-6of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view through the print head of the presentinvention, such as along the vertical plane indicated by the line 7-7 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the print head, such as taken along thetransverse vertical plane indicated by the line 8-8 of FIG. I, and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the left end of the drive shaftshown in FIG. I, showing particularly the mounting of that drive shaftand is an extension of the drive shaft shown in FIG. 1.

It is well-known that a postage meter, such as the one involved in thepresent invention, should be rather light and easily portable, as itmust be taken to the local Post Office from time to time in order to getit reset so that it may be used for an additional period of time. Theuse of postage meters is restricted by the Post Office to those who havepaid postage in advance. The regulations require that the user must payfor a selected amount of postage at the local Post Office where themachine is registered. whereupon a Post Office official will set thedescending register in the meter for that amount of postage. When thatamount of postage is exhausted. the meter must be taken back to the PostOf free to be reset and postage paid thereon. Thus. it is commonpractice to divide postal machines into two different devices:

A. A base. which contains the drive mechanism and much of the auxiliaryequipment. such as tape feeding devices, envelope transporting devices.moisteners. sealers. and particularly the motor which drives themechanism. The meter itselfis mounted in the base and the meter and allof the auxiliary equipment is driven by the power supply in the base.

B. The meter. which should be quite light and easily portable as it mustbe taken periodically to the local Post Office. It must have tworegisters (one ascending and one descending). a printing mechanism. andmeans for setting the register actuating mechanism and the printingdevices. These mechanisms must be so interlocked that registers receivethe exact value that is printed on the stamp.

This invention relates to the meter per se. and the base will bementioned only insofar as it is necessary to support the postage meter.and to drive it.

The postage meter of the present invention will be enclosed in a cover(not shown in this application. as it forms no functional part in theoperation of the mechanism contained in the meter). The cover, orcasing. is necessary only to protect the mechanism and particularly theregisters and the stamp printing dies. so that the register cannot bereset by an unauthorized person or a stamp taken from the die withoutoperation of the registers.

The meter of the present invention is built around a main drive shaft120 (FIGS. 1 and 9). The front end of the drive shaft is journalled in asuitable bearing 121 in the front of the machine and in an intermediatebearing 122 affixed to an intermediate supporting plate 104. The rearend of the drive shaft. or sleeve (FIG. 9) is keyed to a sleeve 125 thatisjournalled in a drive sleeve 130. The hub. or sleeve, 125 is alsokeyed to a large gear 126 which carries a clutch dog 127 pivotallymounted thereon by a suitable pivot stud 128. The nose (not shown) onthe clutch dog 127 is biased into engagement with a notch 131 formed inthe drive sleeve. or hub. 130 by a suitable spring (not shown). Thesleeve 130 is rotatably affixed to the rear frame plate 110 by anysuitable means. such as brackets 132 which are rigidly secured to thebase plate 110 by any suitable means. such as studs 133. These bracketsride in a peripheral notch 134 formed in the wall of the drive sleeve130. The drive sleeve 130 is driven by means of a bracket. or ear. 135,the bracket 135 being an offset portion of the drive sleeve 130. Thebracket 135 fits into a notch 141 of a drive disk 140 rotatably mountedin the base by means not pertinent to the present invention andtherefore not shown. An end plate 123 may be rigidly attached to therear end of the main drive shaft 120 in order to prevent any access tothe drive shaft 120 while the meter is separated from the base. It willbe understood that the disk 140 is driven by a suitable electric motor.likewise not pertinent to this invention and therefore not shown. Itwill be apparent, however,

that rotation of the disk [40, one complete revolution for each cycle ofthe machine, will rotate the main drive sleeve 130. Normally therotation of the drive sleeve 130 will rotate the hub 125 since the noseof the clutch pawl 127 is engaged in the notch 13] of the drive sleeveexcept at such time as the amount standing in the descending register isless than the maximum amount that could be set into the meter by anoperator. The means for disabling operation of the clutch 127,

131 will be described hereafterv It is required by the Post Office thateach meter be provided with two registers: an ascending register inwhich the total amount of postage is accumulated from the time it isfirst placed in service until it is oficially taken out of service. andis not changed. even by the Post Office. at any time; and a descendingregister which is set from time to time by a Post Office employee in thelocal Post Office where the meter is registered. and from which thevalue of the stamps set into the meter by its operator is successivelysubtracted. In the present invention it is preferred that the descendingregister actuator 501 (FIG. 1) be placed on the main drive shaft 120,which actuator will drive the descending register 50 in a subtractivedirection. Preferably. the ascending register 60 will be substantiallyidentical with the descending register but is driven additively by itsown actuator 60] (which preferably is identical to the actuator for thedescending register) but is driven in the reverse direction from theformer. In the preferred form of the invention. this ascending registeractuator 601 and its register 60 are driven from a gear train whichcomprises the gear 126 rigidly mounted on the drive shaft 120 and a geartrain which includes the gears 150 and 151, all of which are pivotallymounted on suitable pivot studs in the rear frame plate 105.

The mechanism of the present invention is mounted in a frame structurewhich includes, among other things. a front frame plate 101,intermediate frame plates 102, 104, a rear plate 105, and auxiliaryfront plates 107 and 108, all shown in FIG. 1. A fixed round shaft. orbar. is rigidly supported at its front end in the front end by theauxiliary plates 107, 108 and at its rear in the cap, or end plate 123(FIG. 9). The main drive shaft is a hollow cylinder surrounding the bar115 and maintained in proper spacial relationship with the bar 115 by aseries of eleven grooved disks 367 which primarily serve as intermediatemembers in setting a selected value into the printing head. ashereinafter described. These disks 367 are non-rotatably but slidablymounted on the fixed bar 115. It will be understood that there are aseries of such grooved disks 367 throughout the length of the driveshaft 120, therebeing one for each order of the selection mechanism, onefor setting the month of the date stamp, two for setting the days of themonth, and four for setting the various mechanisms which control theprint or non-print operation of the date stamp, the bulk rate printingslug and two slogan plates.

SELECTION MECHANISM Each order of the selection mechanism of the presentinvention is set by a setting wheel 301 which is rotatably mounted on astud 302 carried by a plate 303 extending between the front frame plate101 and the intermediate plate 102. Since operators occasionally lettheir hands rest on setting members, it is believed preferable for it tohave a slipping connection with its gear 307, as is more fully explainedin the application entitled Selection Mechanism for a Postage Meter".

The gear 307 of each setting wheel 301 meshes with a rack 315 which isrigidly affixed to a selection bar 320 that is mounted in suitablebearings carried by the frame plates 101 and 102, for both longitudinaland rotating movement. Each rack 315 carries a yoke 316 that embraces aslot 513 in a 9-tooth gear 512 mounted on a square shaft 510, wherebythe gear 512 will be differentially set opposite a selected value toothon the mutilated drum 501, as more fully described in the ap plicationentitled Register for a Postage Meter" above referred to.

The selection bar 320 is provided with a series of ten circular detentgrooves 321 with which is associated a spring ball detent 322 that isresiliently pressed against the bar 320 by a compression spring 323, theball and spring being held in a suitable cylindrical holder, not shown,carried by the frame of the device. Thus, the bar 320 can belongitudinally adjusted by rotation of the wheel against the force ofspring 323, and once adjusted, will be resiliently held in that positionby the force of that spring.

It will be understood that there is a setting wheel 301 and anassociated selection bar 320 for each order of the selection mechanism.In the preferred form of this invention there are four such settingmechanisms, so that a value of $99.99 may be printed and set into theregister (or a value of $9.99- /2 in those few instances in which a userdesires a V2 mechanism). The bars 320 and setting wheels 301 areangularly placed around the actuator 501 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.Since the mechanisms of all of these selection setting devices areidentical, it is believed that only one need be described.

Rearwardly of the detent grooves 321 on bar 320 is an annular notch 324.The groove 324 is embraced by an ascending register yoke 330 which isrigidly secured to an ascending register setting bar 331. The forwardend of the register bar is provided with a series of circumferentialteeth 332. These teeth mesh with a gear 333 which is rigidly secured toa check dial 334 mounted on a shaft 335. The check dial 334 is providedwith indicia showing the values from 0 to 9, inclusive, and is visiblethrough a suitable window in the frame, not shown. The operator can thusdetermine the value set in the register by looking at the check dials334, which, at all times, will correctly register the value set in themechanism. No indicia are required in the setting wheel 301, as that canslip with respect to the value set in the mechanism and hence it ispreferred that this wheel have no indicia.

The ascending register selection bar 331 is suitably journalled in themachine for axial, or longitudinal movement, such as in bearings in theframe plates 104 and 105. Adjacent its rear end, the bar 331 carries ayoke 335 rigidly secured thereto by any suitable means, such as a pin,not identified. The outer, or Y, end of the yoke engages a notch 513 inthe hub ofa selection gear 512 in the ascending register, which gear,hub and notch are identical with that previously described in connectionwith the descending register 50 and its mutilated drum actuator 501. Itwill be understood by those skilled in the art that the gear 512 in theascending register will drive the ascending register 60 to additivelyenter the same value in that register that is being subtracted from thedescending register 50.

Adjacent the rear end of the main setting bar 320 is a series of ninecircumferential rack teeth 340. As shown in FIG. 1, this section of thebar has a flattened surface 341. In the drawing, it would appear thatthis flattened surface 341 lies at the very top of the bar in the normalposition of the bar. However, in actual construction, it is preferredthat this flattened surface be slightly off to the side, being placed107 from the bottom of the rack key when the bar 320 is in its normalposition. Associated with the rack 340 is a restore cam 342, having aseries of nine projecting cam faces 343 so angled as to restore theselection bar 320 one tooth, or step, forwardly as a cam face engagesone of the teeth 340. These nine restore cam faces 343 are so angularlypositioned that they trail all of the teeth on the mutilated drumactuator 501. Hence, after digitation is completed, the cam 342, 343will normally restore the bar 320 to its 0 position, one step at a time,before the completion of the cycle of operation. On the other hand, ifthe selection bar 320 is rocked through an angle of 107, the flat 341will lie opposite the restore cam disk 342 and its nine camming teeth343 cannot engage the teeth of rack 340 so that the bar will not berestored automatically.

Adjacent the forward end of the main selection bar 320 is a secondseries of circumferential rack teeth 350. While the setting bar can onlybe moved nine steps to enter a maximum value of nine in any order it ispreferred to provide about double that number of teeth in order to lockthe bar in a non-restore position by the means hereinafter described. Atthis point it can be noted that the central portion of this series ofrack teeth is flattened as at 351 (see FIGS. 4 and 5), which permit thebar to be moved past a locking plate 420 in the normal position shown.However, when the bar 320 is rocked through an angle of 107, the spacebetween the adjacent teeth 350 will engage the edge of the plate 420,thereby locking the bar 320 in its adjusted position.

Whether or not the shaft 320 is in the automatic restore position shownin FIG. 1, or in the locked position just mentioned, the gear teeth ofeach setting, or selection, bar 320 meshes with a first idler gear 360rotatably mounted on a pivot stud 361 and that, in turn, meshes with asecond idler 362 rotatably mounted on a stud 363. The two gears 360 and362 are mounted radially of the fixed bar and drive shaft 120, as shownin FIG. 1. The second idler 362 meshes with a rack portion 364 on theforward end of a setting bar 365 which runs lengthwise of the fixed bar,or axle 115 and the rotating cylindrical drive shaft 120. Each bar 365is held in its proper angular position by being nested in a groove 116in the fixed bar 115. The bars 365 are therefore held against rotationof the drive shaft 120 but are free to move axially along the fixedshaft, or axle, 115.

Each of the interior setting bars 365 carries at an intermediate point agrooved disk 367. The grooved disk 367 has a central annular groove 368and a pair of side walls 369, as shown in FIG. 1. The grooved disk 367is mounted on its respective bar 365 by means of a pair of collars 370tightly holding the grooved disk between them, each of the collars beingriveted to the bar 365 by suitable rivets 371. In order to preventinterference between the different grooved disks 367 and their clampingrings 370, each order of the selection mechanism is spaced from the nextby an increment slightly greater than the next one can be moved. It willbe understood that each of the eleven setting bars 365 (one for eachorder of the value selection mechanism, three for setting the datestamp, and one for each of the four controls previously mentioned) willreadily slide under each of the other disks 367. The rings 368 nonrotatably engage the interior wall of the main drive shaft 120. Sincethere are eleven such disks 367, it is obvious that they prevent any ofthe setting bars 365 from being displaced from their grooves in the axle[15. The outside wall of the drive shaft [70 is provided with a seriesof eleven longitudinal slots 376 so angularly arranged as to mostconveniently connect to the mechanisms in the print head 70 to whichthey relate. In each such slot 376 is an exterior setting bar 377, therear end of which is provided with gear teeth, or rack, 378. A pin isriveted at the point in its bar 377 where it will register with thegrooved disk 367 on the functionally related interior setting bars 365.This pin 379, as shown in FlG. l, is adapted to engage the groove 368 inthe functionally related grooved disk 367 through a slot 375 through thewalls of the drive shaft 120.

It would appear from FIG. I that the interior bar 365 and the exteriorbar 376 lie in the same angular planev However, this figure has beendistorted to show that the two are functionally associated. Actually, asshown in FIG. 6, the two are angularly separated. As a practical matter,it is preferred to have the print wheels and the indicia for the stampto trail the printing position (bot tom of the figure) by a very slightangle so that it may contact an ink supply device and immediately printthe stamp on the mail close to the leading edge of the mail (whichgenerally goes from left to right). However, the setting mechanism ispreferably placed on top of the machine where it is readily available tothe operator, and with the unit order on the extreme right-hand as anoperator faces the machine. The date stamp controls are mostconveniently placed on the lower left side of the front of the machine,as shown in FIG. 1, and the four print or non-print controls can be setin any place convenient to the operator. The angular displacement of thetwo setting bars 365 and 377 is readily accomplished by the use of theslotted disk 367. Since the disk 367 is rigidly fastened to the innerbar 365, it moves axially of the axle H and drive shaft 120 and in aplane perpendicular to both as the inner setting bar 365 moveslongitudinally. Also, since the disk 367 forms a complete circle, thepin 379 (regardless of where the outer slot 376 and the slot 375 throughthe bottom of the exterior slot 376 into the interior of the cylindricaldrive shaft 120, are located) is always in contact with the slotted disk367 and hence is effective to set the outer setting bar 377 in exactincrements from the movement of the inner setting bar 365. Thus, the manual setting devices can be arranged in the most advantageous position onthe outside of the cover and be di rectly connected to its respectiveinner setting bar 365 and the outer setting bar 377 can be placed wheremost practical in the printing head 70. It can be noted that theexterior setting bars 377 are held in their respective slots 376 againstradial displacement as the front ends lie within the confines of thefront actuator drum 501 and the rear ends lie within the confines of theprint head 70 itself.

Thus, as the main selection bar 320 is moved to a differential positionselected by the operator, the rack teeth 350, through the medium ofidler gears 360 and 362, moves the interior rack bar 365 forwardly anequal differential amount. By means of the grooved disk, or collar, 367and pin 379, the rack bar 377, lying in the groove 376 in the exteriorwalls ofthe main drive shaft 12, is moved a like amount. When the maindrive shaft 120 is rotated to enter the values into the respectiveregisters 50 and 60 and rotate the print head to print the proper stampon mail matter, the rack 377 is held in an adjusted position as its pintravels completely around a circle by its constant contact with thewalls 369 of grooved disk 367. It will also be positively locked in thisposition throughout the printing and registering portion ofa cycle ofoperation (the portion for each such operation being coextensive) aswill be described later under the heading Printing Head". It may bementioned at this point that each cycle of operation requires a completecircle of 360. Regardless of whether the meter is set for a single cycleof operation and the consequent automatic restore of the selectionmechanism, or for a continuous series of operations on a locked value,the drive shaft must automatically complete a full circle and will thenstop unless an incoming piece of mail triggers another cycle before itis stopped. The means for cycling the drive shaft 120 is contained inthe base and is not pertinent to this invention. However, it isunderstood by those skilled in this art that it is controlled by anincoming piece of mail op erating a trigger. When operatingcontinuously, the succeeding incoming letter triggers the next cyclebefore the completion of the pervious one, so the meter runscontinuously without stopping.

The means for rotating the main selection bars to set them for eitherautomatic restore or a fixed selection will now be described. It is seenin FIG. 1 that an interior hand wheel 385 is rotatably mounted on acollar 386 affixed to the forward end plate 107. Adjacent the inner endof the hub of hand wheel 385 is a partial gear 387 (FIGS. 4 and 5). Thispartial gear 387 can be resiliently detented in any adjusted position bymeans of five detent notches 388 which can be engaged by a pin 389carried by an arm 390 that is pivoted on stud 392 and is resilientlybiased into engagement with the partial gear 387 by means ofa tensionspring 391. The partial gear meshes with an idler gear 395 that ispivotally mounted on the plate 107 by any suitable means, such as stud396. The idler 395 meshes with a pair of locking gears 397 and 398,which are identical in construction, but since they are not similarlyset, are given distinguishing reference characters. These gears arerespectively mounted on studs 399 and 400 carried by the end plate 107.Each of the gears 397 and 398 carry a Geneva wheel 40! and a 3-toothgear segment 402 (see FIG. 5). The three elements of gear 397 or 398 andits associated Geneva wheel 401 and 3-tooth gear segment 402 are affixedtogether to form an integral structure. The gear 397 and its assemblyare effective to lock the thousands order selection bar 320-m and thehundreds order selection bar 320-c while the gear 398 and its assemblyare effective to lock the tens order selection bar 320-x and the unitsorder selection bar 320-14. (Where it is necessary to distinguishbetween orders of the selection mechanism, the suffix u is used toindicate the units order of the selection bar 320, the suffix x toindicate the tens order, the suffix c to indicate the hundreds order,and the sufi'ix m to indicate the thousands order selection bars.)

Associated with the wheels 397 and 398 and their integral Geneva wheels40] and 3-tooth gear segments 402 are a set of gear sleeves 410 mountedon the forward ends of the selection bars 320 into which values can beselected. The gear sleeves are suitably keyed to the respectiveselection bar 320 by any suitable means. such as a chordal sectionmating with the flat 351 on the bar 320, so that while the sleeves areheld in a single plane, the bars 320 can move longitudinally withinthem. These mutilated gear sleeves 410 comprise a pair of central gearteeth 41] (FIGS. 4 and 5). These gears have a width, or thickness, equalto the thickness of the Geneva disk 40] and the 3-tooth gear segment302. Adjacent the two central teeth 41] and lying on either side thereofis a long half'thickness section 112 having the radius of a gear toothand extending angularly for a distance equivalent to two gear teeth, butthe trailing edge of this section 412 is a full width tooth 413. Ineither adjusted position, the Geneva wheel 401 will lie between thetrailing gear tooth 413 and the first adjacent central tooth 4]],thereby preventing rotation of the mutilated gear 410. When the 3-toothgear segment 402 comes to a position opposite the mutilated gears 410,the first gear tooth of the 3-tooth gear will engage the leading fulltooth 413 and then drive the mutilated gear 410 through an angulardistance ofthe two central gear teeth 411, whereupon the Geneva wheel401 again comes between the trailing full width tooth 413 and theadjacent central tooth 411. Thus, the gear 410 and consequently itsselection bar 320 can be rotated between two angular positions l07 apartand will be locked in the respective positions until again rotated bymanipulation of the hand wheel 387. Whenever the selection bar 320 isrotated from the position shown in FIG. 1 by the means just described,the flat 341 on the back end of the selection bar is rotated through anangle of 107 and consequently the restore cam 342 will lie opposite theflat 341 and can have no restorative effect upon the bar 320. A similarflat 35] on the rearwrd portion of the gear teeth 350 on the forward endof the selection bar 320 normally faces a locking plate 420 that isrigidly mounted on the frame plate 108. The locking late 420 is shown indotted lines in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4 the selection bars 320-11 and 320-xare shown in the position indicated in FIG. 1 in which the flats 351 onthose selection bars lie opposed to the locking bar 420, while the flats351 on the hundreds and thousands order have been rotated to lieangularly away from said plate. As shown in FIG. 4, the plate 420 hasfour arms which lie opposite the selection shafts 320-u, 320-.t, 320- cand 320-m. When a selection bar 320 is so rocked, the associated arm ofthe locking plate 424 will engage between two adjacent teeth 350 on thebar 320 and hence it cannot be moved in either direction. By the meansjust described, the selection mechanism of the present invention can beset order-by-order from the highest to the lowest from an automaticrestore position into a posi tion in which automatic restoring isimpossible and the selection mechanism is locked in its adjustedposition; and can be unlocked from the lowest order to the highest.

It can be mentioned here that in the preferred form of this invention.the hand wheel can be partially or fully locked against adjustment by alocking wheel 900 (FIG. 1). However, since it is not a necessary part ofa meter according to Post Office regulations, and it is fully describedin the above-mentioned copending application entitled Locking Mechanismfor a Postal Meter, it will not be described here.

REGISTERS The registers of the present invention are driven by the oldand well-known Thomas-type mutilated drum actuators 501 shown in FIG. 2.In the present invention a single drum is effective to drive all of theorders of one of the registers and second drives all of the orders ofthe second. Since both actuators are identical. al though they rotate inopposite directions, and the regis ters are identical except that theascending register will not have a lock-out" mechanism to disable the machine when the amount standing in the register is less than could be setinto the machine by an operator. only the descending register will bedescribed. The first drum 501 is mounted on the main drive shaft of themachine. The drum is provided with nine teeth of differentiallylongitudinally extending teeth 502. The teeth 502 differ in length byapproximately the thickness of the driven gear 512 described in the nextparagraph. The drum 501 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction inthis figure. and the driven gear 512 will be rotated one tooth-space ifthe gear is in alignment with the right end of the lowermost tooth 502,two teeth if aligned with the right end of the second of such teeth. andon to nine increments if aligned with the ninth. or highest, such tooth.The tens-transfer mechanism is driven by a tens-transfer tooth 503,which trails the lowermost. or trailing tooth 502 by considerable spa asshown. A pair of Geneva blocks 504 and 50S, prefer ably formed integralwith the drum 501. are utilized to stop rotation of a driven gear 512immediately after digitation is completed. One block 504 is aligned withthe space between the trailing tooth 502 and the tenstransfer tooth 503,and the second Geneva block 305 trails the transfer tooth 503, as shownin this figure. Cooperating with the Geneva blocks 504, 505 is a Genevadisk 511 (one on each shaft 510).

It has previously been indicated that there is a series of square shafts510 angularly arranged around the mutilated drum 501. These squareshafts are journalled in the front frame plate 101 and intermediateframe plate 102, and pass through enlarged apertures in the auxiliaryplate 103. The descending register herein described preferably has eightorders, so that conceivably it could be used to register $999,999.99 inpostage. although only the four lower orders can receive selected valuesfrom an operator. The number of registers is obviously not important tothe invention herein described. but it can be noted at this point thatwhere a particular order is referred to, the square shafts 510 will beidentified by -8 as referring to the eighth order, etc. As above mentioned, each of the square shafts 510 is provided with a Geneva block511, as shown at 510-8 in FIG. 2. Each of the square shafts 510 in thelower four orders carries a 9-tooth gear 512 slidably mounted thereon.Each of these gears has an extended hub provided with an annular slot513 in which will be the respective yoke 316 already mentioned. Hence,there would be four gears 512 which could be engaged by the actuatordrum 501. It will be seen. therefore, that the positioning of a drivengear 512 with respect to the teeth 502 on drum 501, in the lowest fourorders of the register, will be ef fective, upon rotation of the drum,to enter incremental values in the corresponding orders of the registerthrough the incremental rotation of the gears S12 and square shafts 510.

It should be mentioned at this point that tenstransfers are effectedthrough the driving of a 9-tooth tens-transfer gear 514 (FIG. 2) fromthe rotation of the drum S01 and the tens-transfer tooth 503. Normally,the transfer gears 514 are out of registration with the tooth 503. Thegears 514 (FIG. 2) are moved into the plane of the single transfer tooth503 by means of a yoke SIS rigidly secured to a tens-transfer shaft 516,the yoke engaging an annular groove, not shown. in the hub of thetransfer gear. The operation of the bar 516, and consequently theplacement of gear 514 either in registration with the tens-transfer gear503, or out of such registration, will be described subsequently.

The register 50 itselfis preferably placed between the auxiliary frameplate 103 and the intermediate frame plate 102. In this space there area series of 40-tooth gears 520 rotatably mounted on the main drive shaft120. There is one such gear for each order of the register. The 40-toothgears are driven by their respective driving gears (see FIG. 3) 52]which are rigidly mounted on the square shaft 510 in registration withthe 40 tooth gear 520. The 40-tooth gear. in the preferred embodiment ofthis invention, drives a 20tooth idler 522. These idlers 522 are mountedupon a common shaft 523 and, in turn, mesh with and drive a tooth dialgear 524. Attached to the gear 524 is a dial 525 which will be viewablethrough an appropriate win dow in the meter cover (not shown herein)v Itwill be obvious from FIG. 3 that the differential rotation of aselection gear 512 will effect a corresponding differed tial rotation ofthe 9-tooth gear 521, as both are mounted on the same square shaft. Suchincremental rotation of the gear 521 will drive the 40-tooth gear 520.and accordingly, the idler 522 and the dial 525 will be rotated adifferential amount depending upon the location of the selection gear512 with respect to the teeth 502 of drum 50].

Rigidly secured to the 40-tooth gear 520, as by means of rivets 530, isa 4-tooth gear 531 and a Geneva block disk 532 (see FIG. 3). The 4toothgear 531 has its four teeth S33 equally spaced, or ten gear apart withrespect to the teeth of 40-tooth gear 520. The Geneva block 532 hascorresponding notches S34 adjacent each tooth 533 on 4-to0th gear 531.Adjacent the 9-tooth gear 52] which drives the 40-tooth gear 520 but notconnected thereto, is a driven gear 536, which gear registers with the4-tooth gear 533 above mentioned. Rigidly secured to the gear 536 is aGeneva wheel 537 whereby the gear 536 and Geneva 537 are turned simultaneously. The Geneva 537 is provided with nine projecting cam faces538. It follows that rotation of the 9-tooth gear 521 on the squareshaft 510 drives the 40- tooth gear 320, but the Geneva block 532 andGeneva 537, because of the cooperation of these two, will hold the gear536 against rotation until the 40-tooth gear 520 has gone from a 0 to a9 position. At that time, the single tooth 533 will mesh with the teethof gear 536 and drive it one tooth-space, thereby rotating the Genevablock 537 and the cams 538 one tooth-space likewise.

A cam follower arm 544 is rigidly mounted on the tens-transfer bar 516by any suitable means, not shown. The bar 516 is slidably mounted in thefront and intermediate plates 101 and 102, respectivelyv Normally, theshaft 316 is held in its rearward position by means of a detentmechanism which. for purposes of illustration, is shown as springpressedball 545 (FIG. 3) engaging a pair of adjacent notches 546 in the bar516. Normally, the bars 516 are positioned rearwardly by means of arestore disk 546 having diametrically opposed cam faces 547. Thus, thebars 516 are restored to their rearward inoperative position, bothbefore and subsequent to digitatation. This is preferred, as it permitsadjustment of the descending register by Post Of iice officials toaccommodate additional prepaid postage without regard as to whether atens-transfer is effectcd or not.

It has already been mentioned that the tens-transfer bar 516 alsocarries the tens-transfer drive gear yoke 515 which is rigidly securedthereon by any suitable means, not shown. The yoke 515 registers with anannular notch in the tenstransfer gear 514. it follows that each step ofthe gear 536 and its Geneva disk 537 and integral cams 538, is effectiveto push the follower arm 544 forwardly, This, of course, pushes the bar516 forwardly and accordingly the yoke 515 and tens-transfer gear 516forwardly to be in registration with the single tens-transfer tooth 303on the drum 301.

It is believed obvious that the placing of the selection gear 512 in aproper incremental position on its square shaft 510 by means of theselection mechanism described above will, upon rotation of the driveshaft, first rotate that gear and the square shaft 510 on which it islocated an incremental amount, following which the rotation of the gearis stopped by the registration of the Geneva 51! with the first Genevablock 504 on the drum. Whenever the 40-tooth gear 520 has gone throughthe 0 to 9 position. it will have rotated the gear 536, Geneva 537 andthe cams 538 one tooth-space, thereby projecting the assembly of thefollower arm 544, bar 516, yoke 515, and transfer gear 514 of theadjacent higher order into alignment with the single tooth transfer gear503. The break between the first Geneva block 504 and the second block505, which is aligned with the transfer tooth 503, permits a single stepof rotation of the square shaft 510 in the adjacent higher order, andthat rotation is then blocked by the second Geneva block 505. It is seenin FIG. 7 that the second Geneva block 505 is longer than 504 but is notentirely around but is still relatively short so that after thetens-transfer is effected and rotation of the shaft 510 is definitelystopped, the Geneva 51] will not be in opposition to any blockingsurface, such as 504 or 505.

It is customary in devices using the Thomas principle of the mutilateddrum and positionable selection gears driven thereby, to use 10 teeth onthe selection gear and subsequent mechanisms. It has been found that byusing 9-tooth gears. a substantially heavier Geneva, such as 511, can beused. The 9-tooth Geneva gives a much more pronounced arcuate sectionbetween the teeth and thereby provides a stronger and more reliabledetent, and one which does not wear nearly as readily as the customarylO-tooth Genevas. This enables a faster and longer operation of themeter and much longer usage than would be possible with a IO-tooth gear.It had been thought that lO-tooth gears were necessary in order toprovide for the proper operation of the tens-transfer mechanism.However, it has been found that by using the 40-tooth gears between theregister drive shaft 510 and its register dial 525, the tenstransfer canbe properly secured. As a matter of fact, the two gears 512 and 514 onthe register driving shaft could have less than nine teeth, such aseight, or even less, and the intermediate gear could be a 30-tooth, oreven a 20-tooth gear and accurate tens transfers be properly secured.The numbers mentioned are preferred as they adapt themselves to the sizeand weight of the meter.

It has been mentioned that one of the requirements of the Post Officeregulations is that when the descending register reaches the amountequal to the maximum that can be set upon the selection mechanism andthereby entered into the dials, the machine must be locked againstoperation. In the present device this is accomplished by means of themechanism best shown in FIG. 3. A locking shaft 550 is journalled in thefront and intermediate frame plates 101 and 102, respectively. Thisshaft carries four arms 55] rigidly mounted on the shaft by any suitablemeans, not shown. As shown in FIG. 3, the arms 55] are each providedwith a nose 552 which lies in the same plane as a diametrically notcheddisk S3 attached to the 20-tooth gear 522. The notches 554 of this diskare so located that they register with the nose 552 each time therespective dial 525 stands in a 0 position. The shaft 550 is biased in acounterclockwise position in FIG. 3 by a spring 555 tensioned between anarm 556, also rigidly attached to shaft 550 and a suitable seat, notshown, on the frame. A link 557 connects the arm 556 to the clutch pawl127 (FIG. 9). It is obvious that the shaft 550 cannot rock so long asany one of the noses 552 of the four arms 551 register with thecircumference of its respective disk 553. However, when all noses 552can enter their respective notches 554, the set of four arms 55] and theshaft 550 will be rocked (counter-clockwise in FIG. 3) to pull theclutch pawl 127 out of engagement with notch I31 and thereby disable theclutch that drives the main drive shaft 120. The machine is thus lockedagainst further operation until the descending register is reset by thelocal Post Office.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, four orders of theregister can be driven by the actuator 301, thereby registering up topostage of $99.99 for each operation. Another four orders of theregister are provided without selection mechanism but operative to bedriven by the tens-transfer mechanism herein described. While thisexcess register is believed so large that it will very seldom, if ever,be used, it does permit a large user in sufficient amounts to avoid thenecessity of frequent trips to the Post Office to have the meter reset.

It is believed obvious that the ascending register 60 of the meter canbe identical to the descending register herein described with theelimination of the lockout mechanism just described. The actuator,selection gears, register drive gear train, and the tens-transfermechanism are preferably interchangeable. If the actuator 601 of theascending register 60 is driven in the reverse direction to the maindrive shaft 120, this register will operate additively while thedescending register is operating subtractively. This is readily securedby means of the gear train 126, 150 and previously mentioned.

PRINT HEAD It will be understood that their is a pair of setting bars365 and 377 for each order of the value selection mechanism which, inthe preferred form of the present invention is four, as this enables thelarge value stamp (up to $99.99) to be posted. There are, therefore,four print wheels in the print head for registering like values on theprinted stamp. There will be three pairs of exterior-interior settingbars 377, 365 for use in printing the date, one for the month, two forthe days of the month (the year, since it is used so infrequently, canbe set by a stylus). There is a control bar adapted to set the datestamp" into either a printing or non printing position, and another pairof setting bars for setting two "slogan" plates into printing ornon-printing position, and a fourth for setting a bulk rate slug intoeither a printing or non-printing position. It can be noted here thatdue to the size of the print head (in the preferred form of the presentinvention being approximately four and one-half inches in diameter),there is available for printing slogans or other material, such asreturn addresses, more than another linear seven inches for such plates.in the preferred form of the invention, two are used-one of three inchesand one of four inches, both of which can be set to non-printing orprinting position. Hence, there are eleven pairs of exterior-interiorsetting bars 377, 365, all of which operate in substantially the samemanner The value setting wheels which enter values into the register andprint the value of the stamp are readily settable through the selectionwheel previously mentioned. The date stamps are controlled throughwheels, preferably the hand-setting wheels (FIG, 1). It will beunderstood that there are three such wheels, although only one is shownin this figure, one such wheel being used for printing the name of themonth, and the other two for the date of the month. A gear 702 on eachsuch wheel meshes with an idler 703, and that, in turn, meshes with athird gear 704. These gears are rotatably mounted on pivot studs 705carried by plate 706 extending between frame plates 107 and 108. Thegear 704 meshes with the rack 364 of the functionally related selectionbar 365.

The print head 70 (FIG. 7) in the preferred form of this inventioncarries four value print wheels 720 corresponding to the four manuallyset selection wheels 301 previously described. These four value printwheels 720 are preferably mounted on a single shaft 721 carried by aU-shaped frame member 722 rigidly mounted on the web 705 of the printhead 70. As shown in this figure, the wheels must vary slightly in shapeand curvature, as they are mounted on a shaft 721 that, if extended,would form a cord with the circumference of the print head 70. Only oneof these value print wheels can be perpendicular to the circumference ofthe print head and since the others are parallel to it, they decrease insize and increasingly increase in curvature as shown.

These print wheels are set by means of the exterior setting bar 377, theoperation of which has heretofore been described. The rack 378 on therear end of this setting bar meshes with a gear 710 pivotally mounted ona mounting plate 711 by any suitable means, not shown. The gear 710meshes with an idler 713, likewise pivotally mounted on the plate 711 bysome suitable means, not shown. The gear, in turn, meshes with a printwheel gear 715 which is rigidly secured to each of the value printwheels 720. Thus, it is seen that the lon gitudinal movement of thesetting bars 365 and 377, through the gear train 710, 713 and 715, willset the respective value wheels 720 to the proper positions. The valueprinting wheels 720 are centered in a postage design die plate 730 whichcarries a design 731 approved by the Post Office. The die plate 730 isaffixed to the print head by any suitable means, such as screws, notshown.

The mechanism for printing the date on the envelope adjacent the stampcomprises a month printing wheel 740, two date setting wheels 741, 742which can be identical, although the first one will never print morethan three digits, and a year wheel 743. As mentioned previously, theyear wheel. since it is set only once a year, can be adjusted by astylus. The three wheels 740, 741 and 742, however. are changed moreoften and accordingly it is preferred to control them from the manualsetting of the setting wheels 701 previously mentioned. The settingwheels 701 (FIG. 1) position intc rior setting bars 365 as heretoforeexplained, and they, in turn, translate the exterior setting bars 377for controlling the three print wheels 740, 741 and 742. The

longitudinal movement of the three sets of bars for the 7 datingmechanism to operate gear trains similar to the gear train 710, 713 and715 heretofore described set the date stamps to the selected position.

It is well-known that in some types of mail the Post Office does notwant the date sprinted, so that the dating mechanism should beselectively controlled-both to either a print or a non-print position.This control can be readily secured by providing an eccentric 745 whichlies between opposed arms 746 and 747 on a frame 744, which carry thedating print wheels. The frame 744 is pivotally mounted on the web 705of the print head. It will be obvious from a glance of FIG. 7 thatrotation of the eccentric 745 about its pivot 748 will rock the frame744 through an angle sufficient to move the entire frame away from theperiphery of the print head, so that it will no longer be in a printposition. The rotation of the eccentric on its shaft 748 can be securedthrough a gear train meshing with the functionally related exteriorsetting bar 377.

it was mentioned previously that the preferred form of the print wheelof this invention has a diameter of 4 inches and accordingly, there isapproximately seven inches of space left for slogan plates, or the like.It can be noted that when the print head is at rest (full cycle positionshown), there is a large blank space between the tail end of the secondslogan plate and the postage die 730. It is preferred that there be noprinting die in printing position in the full cycle position.Preferably, this usable space is divided into two sections, or sloganplates 760 and 761 (FIG. 7). In this figure, the first slogan plate 760has a length of three inches, and the second plate 761 has a length 0f4inches. These are much larger than any heretofore usable, as most printheads heretofore have been about half the diameter of that in thispreferred form. The first plate 760 is pivoted on a stud 762 and ismoved in and out of printing position by an eccentric 763 mounted on ashaft 764 carried by the web of the wheel. The eccentric 763 is embracedby a pair of arms 765 which are connected by a sleeve 766. The sleeve766 is rigidly mounted on a bar 767 formed integrally with thecircumference of the slogan plate 760. It will be understood that anysuit able slogan die can be mounted on the plate 760 by any suitablemeans, such as screws (not shown). The shaft 764 and its integraleccentric 763 can be rotated to rock the slogan plate 760 into and outof printing position by means of a gear train operated by an exteriorsetting bar 377, similar to that previously described in connection withthe postage value print wheels.

The longer plate 761 is pivotally mounted on a stud 773 that extendsthrough an aperture 771 in the first slogan plate 760. The plate 761 iscontrolled by an ec centric 775 formed on a shaft 776. What appears tobe another eccentric is actually a clearance aperture 772 and a framebar 774 that rigidly ties the two side pieces, or webs, 705 that formthe frame of the print head. The inward or outward movement of thisplate 76] is controlled by the rotation of the eccentric 775 that isinte gral with a rotatable shaft 776 journalled in suitable bearingscarried by the web 705 of the print head 70. The eccentric 775 isembraced between a pair of arms 777 that are rigidly mounted on a post778 which is rigidly mounted on the peripheral wall of the slogan plate761. This eccentric is controlled in the same manner as those previouslymentioned.

One of the requirements of the Post Office of the manufacturer ofpostage meters requires that the value printing devices be centered in aproper digital position and be rigidly locked in their adjusted positionthroughout the printing cycle, so that they are not subject todisplacement from the position selected by the operator. This is readilysecured in the present invention by means of a locking arm 785 (FIG. 8)that is pivotally mounted on the outside ofa web 705 of the print wheelas by means ofa pivot stud 786 rigidly mounted on the web of the printwheel. This locking arm 785 carries four teeth 787, each of which, whenthe locking arm 785 is rocked (clockwise in FIG. 8 from the positionshown) engages between the teeth 378 of the respective exterior settingrack 377 which lie immediately outside of the inside web 705. It will beseen in FIG. 1 that there is at least one inter-tooth space to theoutside (to the right) of the print head 70. Since setting of the valuewheel is to the right from a zero position, it is obvious that the teeth787 can mesh with the teeth of these four exterior racks in any adjustedposition of the racks. When so locked against movement, not only the bar377 and print wheels 720 are centered and firmly held against anydisplacement, but the respective selection bars 320 are also lockedagainst adjustment.

The locking arm 785 carries a roller 788 pivotally mounted thereon. Asthe print head starts to rotate (counterclockwise in this figure), theroller engages the leading beveled edge 789 of a cam bar 790 that isrigidly mounted on the backside (left in FIG. 1) of the frame plate 104.The cam plate 790 is spaced away from the frame plate by suitablespacers and studs 791. The cam plate 790 has a length which keeps thelocking arm 785 in deep contact with the teeth of the rack 378throughout the printing phase of a cycle of operation. Trailing thelocking cam plate 790 is an unlocking cam plate 792, also mounted on theframe plate 104. This cam plate likewise is spaced from the adjacentframe plateby suitable spacers and studs 793. This cam plate 792 islocated inside of the locking cam plate 790 and as the roller 788 comesoff of cam 790, it is moved outwardly by a leading cam edge 794 and willthereafter roll against the outside of this cam plate 792. In thisposition, the locking arm 785 is out of locking engagement with theracks 378 and the entire setting mechanism can be restored to zero ifnecessary.

It will be understood that a suitable inking mechanism 800 of anysuitable construction is placed ahead of the stamp die and before theprinting mechanisms of the print head can reach the printing position,i.e., the lowermost peripheral edge of the print head in FIG. 7.

What is claimed is:

1. An arithmetic and printing unit for a postage meter comprising:

. a cylindrical hollow main drive shaft;

means for mounting said drive shaft for rotation; means for cyclicallyrotating said drive shaft;

. an ascending register and a descending register;

. a print head mounted on said drive shaft;

. a manually operative selection mechanism for selecting values to beregistered in said registers and in said print head;

7. a mutilated drum actuator for one of said registers mounted on saiddrive shaft;

8. means controlled by said selection mechanism for operating one ofsaid registers from said actuator differentially from the value set insaid selection mechanism;

9. a second mutilated drum actuator;

10. means driven by said main drive shaft for driving said secondmutilated drum actuator;

l l. means controlled by said selection mechanism for registering avalue in said second register from the operation of said secondactuator;

12. value stamping members for printing a stamp value on mail matterpositionably mounted within said print head; and

13. means controlled by said selection mechanism for positioning saidstamping members.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising also means for locking said valuestamping members and said selection mechanism against adjustment duringan initial portion of a cycle of rotation of said drive shaft, saidmeans comprising:

a. an arm pivotally mounted on said print head;

b. locking means on said arm for engaging the exte rior bars; and

c. means operated during an initial portion ofa cycle of operation ofsaid drive shaft for operating said arm.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said registers comprise:

l. a plurality of register drive shafts circumfercntially arrangedaround each of said actuators;

2. 9-tooth selection gears slidably but non-rotatably mounted on some ofsaid shafts;

3. a tens-transfer gear slidably but non-rotatably mounted on each ofsaid shafts;

4. a 9-tooth gear rigidly mounted on said shaft;

5. a 40-tooth gear meshing with said last mentioned gear;

6. a ZO-tooth gear meshing with said 40-tooth gear;

7. a lO-tooth gear meshing with said ZO-tooth gear;

8. a dial rigidly mounted on said l0-tooth gear;

9. a 4-tooth gear and a Geneva wheel mounted on said 40-tooth gear.

10. a 9-tooth gear and a Geneva wheel rotatably mounted on said shaftand registering with said 4- tooth gear and said Geneva. respectively;

1 l. projecting cam faces in said last-mentioned gear and Geneva;

12. a cam follower moved longitudinally by said cam projections; and

l3. means moved by said cam follower for movi .g said tens-transfer gearof the adjacent higher order into alignment with the singletens-transfer tooth on said actuator.

1. An arithmetic and printing unit for a postage meter comprising:
 1. acylindrical hollow main drive shaft;
 2. means for mounting said driveshaft for rotatiOn;
 3. means for cyclically rotating said drive shaft;4. an ascending register and a descending register;
 5. a print headmounted on said drive shaft;
 6. a manually operative selection mechanismfor selecting values to be registered in said registers and in saidprint head;
 7. a mutilated drum actuator for one of said registersmounted on said drive shaft;
 8. means controlled by said selectionmechanism for operating one of said registers from said actuatordifferentially from the value set in said selection mechanism;
 9. asecond mutilated drum actuator;
 10. means driven by said main driveshaft for driving said second mutilated drum actuator;
 11. meanscontrolled by said selection mechanism for registering a value in saidsecond register from the operation of said second actuator;
 12. valuestamping members for printing a stamp value on mail matter positionablymounted within said print head; and
 13. means controlled by saidselection mechanism for positioning said stamping members.
 2. means formounting said drive shaft for rotatiOn;
 2. 9-tooth selection gearsslidably but non-rotatably mounted on some of said shafts;
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1 comprising also means for locking said valuestamping members and said selection mechanism against adjustment duringan initial portion of a cycle of rotation of said drive shaft, saidmeans comprising: a. an arm pivotally mounted on said print head; b.locking means on said arm for engaging the exterior bars; and c. meansoperated during an initial portion of a cycle of operation of said driveshaft for operating said arm.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidregisters comprise:
 3. a tens-transfer gear slidably but non-rotatablymounted on each of said shafts;
 3. means for cyclically rotating saiddrive shaft;
 4. an ascending register and a descending register;
 4. a9-tooth gear rigidly mounted on said shaft;
 5. a 40-tooth gear meshingwith said last mentioned gear;
 5. a print head mounted on said driveshaft;
 6. a manually operative selection mechanism for selecting valuesto be registered in said registers and in said print head;
 6. a 20-toothgear meshing with said 40-tooth gear;
 7. a 10-tooth gear meshing withsaid 20-tooth gear;
 7. a mutilated drum actuator for one of saidregisters mounted on said drive shaft;
 8. means controlled by saidselection mechanism for operating one of said registers from saidactuator differentially from the value set in said selection mechanism;8. a dial rigidly mounted on said 10-tooth gear;
 9. a 4-tooth gear and aGeneva wheel mounted on said 40-tooth gear;
 9. a second mutilated drumactuator;
 10. means driven by said main drive shaft for driving saidsecond mutilated drum actuator;
 10. a 9-tooth gear and a Geneva wheelrotatably mounted on said shaft and registering with said 4-tooth gearand said Geneva, respectively;
 11. projecting cam faces in saidlast-mentioned gear and Geneva;
 11. means controlled by said selectionmechanism for registering a value in said second register from theoperation of said second actuator;
 12. value stamping members forprinting a stamp value on mail matter positionably mounted within saidprint head; and
 12. a cam follower moved longitudinally by said camprojections; and
 13. means moved by said cam follower for moving saidtens-transfer gear of the adjacent higher order into alignment with thesingle tens-transfer tooth on said actuator.
 13. means controlled bysaid selection mechanism for positioning said stamping members.